Niles 8th Grade Transition Parent Meeting

Transition Program – Best Practices (Research)

• The National High School Center emphasizes the importance of establishing a transition program from middle to high school:– Interventions are linked to positive

student outcomes such as higher student achievement and lower dropout rates (NHSC, 2007a; 2007b).

• Transition programs-– Assist in preparing incoming freshmen

to successfully navigate the new academic and social demands of high school.– Students’ experiences in their first

year of high school often determine their success throughout h.s. and beyond. However…

Transition Program – Best Practices (Research)

Transition Program – Best Practices (Research)

…more students fail ninth grade than any other grade. (NHSC, 2007).

**We hope to have a positive impact on this fact through the implementation of this transition program.

Transition Program

• Step 1: To communicate to families what ninth graders are expected to know and be able to do to succeed in high school.

• GPA Counts

Transition Program – GPA Counts

• A = 4• B = 3• C = 2• D = 1• F = 0

• Language Arts A 4• Math B 3• Science B 3• Social Studies A 4• Art C 2• Band A 4(Add)

4 + 3 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 4 = 20(Divide) 20/6 = 3.333 GPA

Transition Program – GPA Counts

Freshman Year:4 + 3 + 3 + 4 + 2 +

4 = 20(Divide) 20/6 =

3.333 GPA

Sophomore Year:3 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 3 + 2

+ 4 = 19Add points from

both years: 19 + 20 = 39/13

3.0 GPA

Transition Program Components

• Component 1 – Junior Visit• Component 2 – Counselor Visit• Component 3 – Parent Meeting• Component 4 – 8th Grade class visit

to High School

Transition Program Component #1 : Junior Visit

8th graders generated the questions:• Academics: How many classes do I take in one year? Credits to

graduate? Grades for eligibility?• Classes: Are the upper classmen in my classes? Do we pick our

classes?• Homework: Do we have a lot of homework?• Extras: What clubs and electives are available to join? • School Rules/General Set-Up: Phones? Ipods? Dress code?

Ride bikes to school? What is the lunch schedule?• Social Life: Is it normal to feel nervous? What are the students

like? Are the upperclassmen helpful to the freshmen?

Transition Program Component #1 : Follow-up Survey Results

• Q1: I enjoyed meeting and talking to the juniors about high school: 95%

• Q2: This activity eased some of my anxieties about attending high school: 94%

• Q3: Hearing the juniors talk about their own personal high school experiences was helpful:

83%• Q4: I think it was a worthwhile activity: 96%• Q5: I am looking forward to the h.s. field trip: 95%

How 8th graders are preparing for transition at NMS

• Ohio Means Jobs• Career Day• TCTC Visit• Scheduling• Ongoing communication with

students regarding expectations

NMS vs. NHS

• Everything will now count• Transcripts will begin• F = on transcripts and no credit earned• GPA and class rank count• More freedom but more responsibility• Students will have to begin making

decisions that will effect their future.

Responsibilities

• It is the responsibility of each student to make certain that all requirements for graduation and athletic eligibility are met.

• Rules, regulations, and policies regarding scholastic credit should be reviewed carefully.

• The school counselors and administration will make every effort to see that students are scheduled properly.

• It is each student’s responsibility for his/her progress toward his/her diploma.

• Graduation and athletic eligibility requirements are listed in the student handbook and curriculum guide so please review with your student.

Course Load

• The average student is expected to carry the following minimum units of credit each year.

OHSAA Credit Requirements

• The OHSAA requires the passing of 5 credits each nine week grading period. In addition, the Board of Education has adopted a minimum 1.0 GPA for athletic participation in the nine week period.

Val/Sal Requirements

• Valedictorian and Salutatorian (Starting with the class of 2016)

• In an effort to recognize academic excellence, a class valedictorian and salutatorian will be chosen. The following criteria will be taken into consideration:

• Valedictorian(s) will be the graduating senior(s) having the highest grade point average.

• Salutatorian(s) will be the graduating senior(s) having the second highest grade point average.

• Students must take the required courses and pass with at least a final grade of a B or higher.

Val/Sal Requirements Cont.

• No tutored courses or summer school classes will be accepted• In case of ties, equal GPA's, CO-valedictorians and/or CO-salutatorians

will be named.• Valedictorians and salutatorians will be named at the end of the 3rd

nine-week grading period. A letter grade of C or below during the fourth nine week grading period will retract the student valedictorian/Salutatorian status.

• To qualify, the student must be enrolled for coursework at Niles McKinley.

• Be enrolled as a student at Niles McKinley High School by the first day of his/her senior year and complete four semesters at Niles McKinley High School.

• Must earn a Diploma with Honors

Val/Sal Requirements Cont.

Standard Diploma • Passage of end of course exams (see yellow handout)• 23 credits

– 4 English– 4 Math including Alg. 2 and beyond– 3 Science w/lab components

• 1 biological• 1 physical• 1 higher level

– 3 Social Studies (World, US, Gov’t)– ½ economics– ½ PE (or waiver)– ½ health– 1 Business, Career and/or foreign language or combo– 1 fine arts

End of Course Exams as of Now

• English Language Arts 1• English Language Arts 2• Algebra 1• Geometry• American History• American Government• Physical Science (this year)• Biology (next year)

End of Course Exams as of Now

• Students can earn from 1-5 points for each exam, based on their performance.5 – Advanced4 – Accelerated3 – Proficient2 – Basic1 – Limited

• A student who earned high school credit in any of the above courses before July 1, 2015 and a required end-of-course exam was not available automatically will receive a score of three points per course exam toward the total points needed for graduation.

End of Course Exams as of Now

• Middle school students this year who take one of these courses for high school credit must take the corresponding state end-of-course exam in this school year.

• Graduation Points - With few exceptions, students must accumulate a minimum of 18 points from scores on their end of course exams to become eligible for a diploma.

Honor’s Diploma

• In order to earn an Academic Diploma with Honors one must take courses from the Advanced and/or Honors Path and meet 7 out of these 8 requirements:– English - Four (4) credits – Math - Four (4) credits (including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or

equivalent and another higher level course or a four-year sequence of courses that contain equivalent content)

– Science – Four (4) credits (including Physics and College in H.S. General Chemistry and/or Chemistry)

– Social Studies - Four (4) credits – Foreign Language - Three (3) credits (including at least 2 units in each

language studied)– Fine Arts - One (1) credit – Grade Point Average – 3.5 on a 4.0 scale– ACT/SAT – 27 ACT / 1210 SAT

College Prep

College Prep Courses• The core college curriculum recommended for most colleges consists of:• 4 units of English (Academic, Honors, and/or AP)• 4 units of Math (Academic Algebra I, Academic Algebra II, Academic Geometry)• 4 units of Science (Academic Physical Science, Academic Biology I, Academic

Biology II, Chemistry, and Physics)• 3 units of Social Studies (includes Academic World History, Academic U.S. History,

Academic American Government)• 2-3 units of the same Foreign Language or 2 units each of 2 different languages• 1 unit of Fine/Performing Arts * Some programs may require more extensive preparation in specific subject areas.* Deficiencies may cause college entry rejection or admission on condition.

TCTC

• TCTC will visit 8th graders in March• Vocational School located in Champion offering

many programs of study• All credits and grades earned will go toward

Niles McKinley diploma• Students are able to do extra curricular activites

at Niles McKinley

Earning College Credits

• College in HS– Chemistry (had to have passed HS Chemistry)– English Writing (1550) – 11th grade Honor’s English– English Literature & Diversity (Humanities Credit) – 11th

and 12th

– Calculus (12th grade)– Statistics– Online Psychology

Earning College Credits

• College Credit Plus (formally College in HS and SB140)

– Must meet with counselor before March 31– Students must provide their own transportation. – College credit and high school credit is earned. – No tuition for eligible students.

• Students must meet requirements of the college they wish to attend.

• If interested, students must have already taken an ACT.

Drop/Add Classes

• Students expected to follow through with the subjects they have selected.

• Students permitted to have a schedule change if need subjects missing from their schedules or incomplete schedules.

• Students in study halls who wish to add a subject in that study hall period may also see if the addition of a class is possible.

• There will be absolutely no dropping/changing of classes unless a computer error has been made or unless the teacher recommends a change.

Drop/Add Classes Cont.

• Requesting a specific teacher for a particular class will not be considered in making schedule changes.

• All requests for changes in schedules must be approved by a counselor and the principal.

• All students are to be enrolled in at least 5 classes. • There will be no schedule changes after the second

week of school or the first after the start of the second semester.

• After such time the student shall receive withdrawn failing (WF) and the course will be counted in calculating point average.

Schedule Form

• Yellow form that must be signed.• Teachers will help place students in core courses

by signing and initialing best class placement.• Many classes have prerequisites:

ex.

Schedule Form

Schedule Form

• Academic Classes are for those students who have or are earning a C or lower in their 8th grade courses.

• Advanced Classes are for those students who have or are earning a B or better in their 8th grade courses or C in their Adv. LA Enrichment

• All Core courses MUST be signed and INITIALED by the core teacher.

PE Waiver (PE Opt Out)

• Students can get a PE Waiver is they play a sport, are a cheerleader, or doing marching band as stated:

• 1 complete seasons = 1 waiver• 2 complet seasons = 2 waivers (this meets PE requirements).• 2 waiver = .5 PE opt out equivalent• In order to use PE Opt Out for the ½ credit PE requirement,

students must complete 2 sport seasons. Students cannot do 1 waiver and 1 class.

• Ex. 2 years of marching band will satisfy the opt out requirements.• Ex. 2 years of golf or 2 years of soccer• Ex. 1 year of football and same 1 year of basketball = 2

Sports

Clubs/Oraganizations Get Involved!

• Anti-Bully Club• Art Guild• Computer Club• Drama Club• French Club• Future Educators• Italian Club• Key Club• Library/Guidance/Office Aides• National Honor Society• Prep Bowl• SADD• Spanish Club• Speech Team• Student Council• Students for Environment• Red Dragon Gaming Society

Responsibilities

• It is the responsibility of each student to make certain that all requirements for graduation and athletic eligibility are met.

• Rules, regulations, and policies regarding scholastic credit should be reviewed carefully.

• The school counselors and administration will make every effort to see that students are scheduled properly.

• It is each student’s responsibility for his/her progress toward his/her diploma.

• Graduation and athletic eligibility requirements are listed in the student handbook and curriculum guide so please review with your student.

Questions

Thank You for Attending!Niles Middle School Principal:

Mr. Sam Reigle

Niles Middle School Assistant Principal:Mrs. Tracie Parry

High School Principal:Mr. Mark Lucas

High School Vice Principal:Mr. Steve Rovnak

Middle School Counselor: Mrs. Vicki Raptis

High School Counselors:Mrs. Karen KlemMrs. Julie Strollo